Pay and benefits are definitely on the low end. Once you learn some concrete skills, you can take those with you and go earn 30, 40, or even 50% more and get better benefits elsewhere. Tight margins make it very difficult for low level management to set realistic expectations with their employees in regards to promotions.
Managements infatuation with their budget to the point where they are not even spending all of it. The saying goes, if you don’t use it, you lose it.